Italian styling coupled with ample American V8 horsepower was well established by the late 1960s, no doubt influencing AC Cars’ decision to re-configure its fire-breathing Cobra sports car as a luxury Grand Routier. A Cobra MkIII coil-suspended chassis was extended by 6" in the wheelbase and dispatched to Italy to be clothed in elegant coachwork by Pietro Frua, the result looking not unlike the Maserati Mistral from the same studio. A two-seater convertible was completed for the 1965 London Motor Show, while the 1966 Geneva Salon saw the launch of the ‘Fastback’ coupe. The 7-litre Ford engine produced 345bhp - all the performance customers desired – this stupendous engine propelling this 140+mph car to 60 in less than 6-seconds, and 100mph in a staggering 14.5 seconds. Hindered by the 428’s similarly staggering price, more than the contemporary Aston Martin DB6, production never attained Cobra levels, just 51 coupes and 29 convertibles made between 1966 and 1973.

A rare car indeed, this automatic dark metallic blue convertible is understood to have had two previous owners, and currently registers 54,400 miles. Reported to be in good all-round order, latest bills include a new battery and radiator, it comes with Swansea V5 document, road fund licence until August 2003 and MoT certificate until September 2003.